Colombo University at Shramadana: Medicinal plants against Dengue, awareness on Polythene, Plastic
View(s):The academic staff of the Dept of Zoology & Environment Sciences of the University of Colombo (UoC) initiated a shramadana campaign recently to clean the university premises, to counter Dengue with medicinal plants and to create awareness on polythene and plastic. The entire Faculty of Science and the UoC School of Computing took part in the campaign.
Shramadana in Progress
Prof. Mayuri Wijesinghe who was the key player of the shramadanaya, got the support of all the students. Miss Charuni Pathmeswaran was the link between the academic staff and the students. UoC Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake gave a huge boost when he decided to close the Science Faculty at 1 pm, for students to take part in the shramadanaya. Newly elected student body of Base for Enthusiasts of Environment Sciences & Zoology (BEEZ), under the leadership of Miss. Amayaa Wijesinghe got into action. They have got the medicinal plants for the symbolic tree planting and created a picture post card to carry the message ‘Say No to Polythene’. Whoever buys a card will pledge to reduce the consumption of polythene, while all proceeds will go to implement BEEZ’s green programmes.
Prof. Wipula Yapa whose brainchild is ‘Say No to Polythene’, is heading the awareness campaign to reduce polythene and plastic. He says that all supermarkets should charge a reasonable amount from the customers for ‘Silisili Bags’ to reduce polythene. At this very moment, he is doing a research on how to produce a stronger paper bag at low cost, to replace polythene bags. He is also looking for banks’ branch networks to promote the concept of ‘Say No to Polythene’ among their customers.
To counter Dengue by using ‘Nature’s Friend’-the plants- is the brainchild of Prof. Deepthi Wickremasinghe who discussed with Prof. Yapa for a joint effort to counter Dengue. She collected scientific data and programmes initiated by other leading organizations in the world on mosquitoes and Dengue. Her findings made others aware of the importance of local plants, Daspethiya (Marigolds), Pangiri (Citronella), Sera (Lemon Grass), Heen Maduruthala (Holy Basil), Kuppamania (Catnip) etc.
Handing over medicinal plants
The VC, in his address to the students, thanked Prof. Yapa, the academic staff and BEEZ for initiating such an important event and requested students to get more involved in University activities, mainly for the environment. He reminded the students how he spent 40 years with the UoC- first as a student, then lecturer and now as VC. His goal is to make the UoC a ‘Green University’ by 2020.
Dean of the Science Faculty, Prof K.R.R. Mahanama elaborated on the future plans for the UoC, for the benefit of the students and requested them to get the maximum benefits out of the facilities given, and work towards the betterment of society. He said plans are under way to put up 3 new buildings to give more facilities for more students, and assured the buildings will not have any harmful effects on the environment.
Prof. Yapa in his speech, thanked the VC and the Dean for taking such an active part in the shramadana, and also thanked the academic staff and the students. He highlighted the activities of the BEEZ and said that there are several environment programmes in the pipeline to be executed in the future. He paid a tribute to AdeZ Sri Lanka (Link Children to the Nature) for joining hands in the event, and requested them to continue the good work in the future too.
Prof. Deepthi has also started a medicinal plants campaign with her students to plant trees in 50 schools in the Colombo District.
- Ralph Gunawardena